Community-Engaged Research and Action to Reduce Respiratory Disease in Appalachia | National Institute of Environmental Health S
Source: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/translational/rta/pfg/uk
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:11
Community-Engaged Research and Action to Reduce Respiratory Disease in Appalachia | National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
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Community-Engaged Research and Action to Reduce Respiratory Disease in Appalachia
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Partnerships for Environmental Public Health (PEPH)
Study Location:
Kentucky Appalachian communities
Academic Partners:
University of Kentucky
Steven Browning, Ph.D.
Nancy Schoenberg, Ph.D.
Community members selected the name Mountain Air Project (MAP) to reflect the goal of conducting research that enhances the respiratory health of Appalachian residents.
Community Partners:
Appalachia-Science in the Public Interest
Appalshop and the Appalachian Media Institute
Cowan Community Action Group
Faith Moves Mountains
Kentuckians for the Commonwealth
Kentucky Headwaters
Faith-based partnerships with over 70 churches in 8 counties
Project Description
The Letcher County, Kentucky Community Advisory Board
This project aims to reduce respiratory health disparities in Appalachian communities in Kentucky by drawing on long-standing community-academic partnerships. Adults in Appalachian Kentucky are 50 percent more likely to develop asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) than people living elsewhere in the U.S. Researchers will conduct a community-based assessment to better understand the environmental, social, and behavioral factors that may account for this situation. Project partners will use the assessment to collaboratively develop innovative approaches to improving respiratory health and will create a community-endorsed environmental public health action strategy for reducing respiratory health inequities in the Appalachian region.
Specific project aims are to:
Investigate the extent, nature, and source of respiratory health inequities through a community-engaged assessment of environmental and individual-level exposures.
Enhance community knowledge about respiratory illness and refine a culturally appropriate environmental public health action strategy.
Test the effectiveness of the environmental public health action strategy by implementing and evaluating interventions involving self-management and changes to the home environment.
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Last Reviewed: January 29, 2026
Skip Navigation
Community-Engaged Research and Action to Reduce Respiratory Disease in Appalachia
Close the left navigation
Partnerships for Environmental Public Health (PEPH)
Study Location:
Kentucky Appalachian communities
Academic Partners:
University of Kentucky
Steven Browning, Ph.D.
Nancy Schoenberg, Ph.D.
Community members selected the name Mountain Air Project (MAP) to reflect the goal of conducting research that enhances the respiratory health of Appalachian residents.
Community Partners:
Appalachia-Science in the Public Interest
Appalshop and the Appalachian Media Institute
Cowan Community Action Group
Faith Moves Mountains
Kentuckians for the Commonwealth
Kentucky Headwaters
Faith-based partnerships with over 70 churches in 8 counties
Project Description
The Letcher County, Kentucky Community Advisory Board
This project aims to reduce respiratory health disparities in Appalachian communities in Kentucky by drawing on long-standing community-academic partnerships. Adults in Appalachian Kentucky are 50 percent more likely to develop asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) than people living elsewhere in the U.S. Researchers will conduct a community-based assessment to better understand the environmental, social, and behavioral factors that may account for this situation. Project partners will use the assessment to collaboratively develop innovative approaches to improving respiratory health and will create a community-endorsed environmental public health action strategy for reducing respiratory health inequities in the Appalachian region.
Specific project aims are to:
Investigate the extent, nature, and source of respiratory health inequities through a community-engaged assessment of environmental and individual-level exposures.
Enhance community knowledge about respiratory illness and refine a culturally appropriate environmental public health action strategy.
Test the effectiveness of the environmental public health action strategy by implementing and evaluating interventions involving self-management and changes to the home environment.
Back
to Top
Last Reviewed: January 29, 2026